Touring Ski Binding Rolling Mechanism for Natural Ascent

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing ski bindings for touring skiing often result in inaccurate and error-prone movement sequences during climbing, leading to jerky or stop-and-go movements.

Innovation Solution

A ski binding with a support element and a storage element that allows the ski boot to roll on a bally contact surface, featuring two swivel axes that enable a smooth, ergonomic movement sequence, mimicking natural barefoot walking.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a complex mechanism with multiple hinges and plates is used to enable natural rolling during ascent, then the movement sequence is improved, but the mechanism becomes inaccurate, error-prone, and plays-like behavior occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemovement sequenceVSAvoidmovement accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The mechanism is divided into two independent pivot axes: the first pivot axis (S1) allows the ski boot to pivot relative to the ski boot holder, while the second pivot axis (S2) allows the bearing element to pivot relative to the support element. This segmentation eliminates the complex multi-hinge mechanism while maintaining the natural rolling movement sequence during ascent.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A spherical support surface (6) is introduced on which the ski boot can roll. This spherical geometry enables a smooth, continuous rolling motion during ascent that mimics natural barefoot walking, replacing the inaccurate play-like behavior of the previous mechanism with a reliable, predictable spherical contact interface.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

2Stability of the object's composition

If the bearing element is firmly attached to the support element in the pivoting position during the first phase of movement, then stability is improved, but the mechanism complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebearing element attachmentVSAvoidmovement phases
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The bearing element's attachment state is made dynamic: it is firmly attached to the support element in the pivoting position during the first phase of movement (when the ski boot is at least partially lifted off the spherical support surface), and then pivoted back to its original position in the second phase. This dynamic adjustment provides stability when needed while maintaining overall mechanism simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution allows for a dynamic and fluid movement of the entire body, reducing muscular and joint loads, and enabling smoother transitions between steps without interruption.

Implementation Method 1

a spherical support surface (6) on which the ski boot (5) can roll

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRolling: Roller

Data Source

PatentEP4173682B1Ski binding, in particular touring ski binding
Publication Date: 2025.04.09 FRITSCHI SWISS BINDINGS
  • EP4173682B1 patent drawingFigure 1a~1b
  • EP4173682B1 patent drawingFigure 2a~2b
  • EP4173682B1 patent drawingFigure 3a~3b

AI summary

A touring ski binding (1) comprises a support element (2) attachable to the ski, a bearing element (3) with a ski boot receptacle (4) designed such that the ski boot (5) can be pivotably mounted in the ski boot receptacle (4) about a first pivot axis (S1) with respect to the ski boot receptacle (4), and a convex contact surface (6) on which the ski boot (5) can roll, wherein the bearing element (3) is pivotably connected to the support element (2) about a second pivot axis (S2) from a starting position to a pivot position, wherein the ski boot (5) can be moved from a static position, in which the ski boot (5) rests on the convex contact surface (6), to a pulling position, in which the ski boot (5) is lifted from the convex contact surface (6), wherein, starting from the static position, the ski boot (5) can be moved on the convex contact surface (6) in the direction of the pulling position such that the ski boot (5) rolls on the convex support surface (6),where, simultaneously with the rolling process, a pivoting movement of the ski boot (5) about the first pivot axis (S1) and of the bearing element (3) about the second pivot axis (S2) is effected.